PRESS RELEASE from Doctors for America

August 24, 2012

Patients Over Politics Tour Hits Both Conventions: Doctors and Patients Stand Up for Health Reform

Doctors and patients embark on a historic 12-day journey from Republican National Convention to Democratic National Convention, 
busting health reform myths and providing preventive care along the way

WASHINGTON, DC– Doctors for America’s Patients Over Politics Tour is a historic 12-day journey of doctors and patients from the Republican National Convention in Tampa to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. Our message to politicians in both political parties and in cities along the way: “It’s time for opponents of health reform to stop obstructing the Affordable Care Act. It’s time for supporters of health reform to stand up for the Affordable Care Act.”

Doctors and patients are flying and driving in from 17 states to participate in the Patients Over Politics Tour. At each stop, doctors will be providing preventive care to the public, including blood pressure and diabetes screenings. Select stops along the route will feature declaration deliveries, where doctors and patients will present a declaration to America’s politicians signed by thousands of citizens in all 50 states that reads: We, the undersigned, demand our politicians put Patients Over Politics. We must work together to build on the Affordable Care Act with further reforms and commit to a future where everyone can get health care when they need it.” Signers include top leaders in health care – deans of medical schools, leaders of health systems, and heads of national physician organizations. 

“Those of us who know - who witness the tragedies of our health care system and who understand that the Affordable Care Act will save lives - we have to stand up. We have to speak up. We have to speak truth to power,” said Alice Chen, MD, Executive Director of Doctors for America. “If health reform falls to political pressures, we will never be able to face our patients, our country, or ourselves knowing there's something we could have done. Together, we can turn the tide and win once and for all a future, where we as a country, make sure that everyone can get the health care they need.”

WHO:   Doctors and patients standing up for the Affordable Care Act because it saves lives

WHAT:     Doctors for America’s Patients Over Politics Tour
                        Deliver Declarations of Support for health reform to elected leaders
Town hall forums to bust myths about the impact of health reform on communities
Health screenings

WHEN and WHERE:            August 26 to September 6, 2012
RNC (Tampa, FL) to DNC (Charlotte, NC)


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

  • Sunday, August 26 - St. Petersburg, FL
  • Monday, August 27 - Sarasota, Bradenton, Clearwater, FL
  • Tuesday, August 28 - Tampa, FL (USF)
  • Wednesday, August 29 - Eatonville, FL
  • Thursday, August 30 - Tampa, FL (RNC)
  • Friday, August 31 - Gainesville, FL
  • Saturday, September 1 - Atlanta, GA
  • Sunday, September 2 - Columbia, SC
  • Monday, September 3 - Charlotte, NC (CarolinaFest)
  • Tuesday, September 4 - Durham, NC
  • Wednesday, September 5 - Charlotte, NC
  • Thursday, September 6 - Charlotte, NC (DNC)

Sunday, August 26 - Health Reform Matters for Families and Children

4:30pm: St. Petersburg, FL - Doctors and Patients Rally for Health Reform at Tropicana Field (RNC Kick-off) 

Be the first to see the unveiling of our Patients Over Politics RV!  

Tropicana Field
On the 1700 Block of 1st Ave N.
St. Petersburg, FL 

Join us for the kickoff of the Doctors for America Patients Over Politics Bus Tour! The Republican National Convention Kicks off with a concert at Tropicana Field, and we'll be there to show the world that doctors and patients are standing up for health reform.

7:00pm: Clearwater, FL - Kick-off Dinner

Antonio’s Pasta Grill
2755 Ullmerton Road
Clearwater, FL

Monday, August 27 - Health Reform Matters for Seniors

**CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER••
10:00-11:00am: Sarasota, FL - Senior Friendship Center Education Presentation

Senior Friendship Center
1888 Brother Greenen Way
Sarasota, FL 34236

Join us for an education presentation and community discussion on how the Affordable Care Act helps seniors.  We will also be providing health screenings and education about how to stay healthy.

Featured Speakers: Dr. Suzie Prabhakaran and others

**CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER••
12:30pm: Bradenton, FL - Manatee County Courthouse Press Conference and Delivering Declarations of Support to Local Officials

Manatee County Courthouse
1115 Manatee Ave West
Bradenton, FL

Join us for a press conference at the Manatee County Courthouse.  We will be delivering declarations of support for the ACA to county elected officials.

**WE ARE STILL PLANNING TO BE IN TAMPA IN THE AFTERNOON!••
4:00pm: Tampa, FL -  Speakers Platform

S. Nebraska Ave. and Walton St.
Tampa, FL 

We will be featuring physicians and senior patients at the RNC speakers platform in Tampa. We'll have both Spanish and English-speaking physicians. 

7:30pm: St. Petersburg, FL - RNC Watch Party and Community Gathering 

Courtside Grill
110 Fountain Parkway North
St. Petersburg, FL 33726
727-561-7433

Tuesday, August 28 - Health Reform Matters to Young Adults

2:00pm-4:00pm: Tampa, FL - Young Adults & Health Reform Education & Dorm Health 101 Tabling & Press Conference & Declaration Delivery

University of South Florida - Bookstore Corral
(Adjacent to the USF Bookstore, Marshall Student Center, Student Services Building)
4202 E. Fowler Ave.
Tampa, FL 33620

6:00pm-8:00pm: Tampa, FL - Doctors for America Fundraiser 

At the home of Dr. Patrick Cimino
Email Annie Hughes at annie.hughes@drsforamerica.org for more details.

8:00pm: Tampa, FL - RNC Watch Party and Community Gathering 

Shamrock’s
7805 Temple Terrace Highway
Tampa, FL

Wednesday, August 29 - Health Reform Matters to Women and Families

1:00-3:00pm: Eatonville, FL - Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church Health Reform Education and Health Fair

Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
412 E. Kennedy Blvd.
Eatonville, FL

Join us for a health fair, ACA education forum, and press conference. We will have free blood pressure and diabetes screening, a representative from Target to discuss affordable prescription drugs, and more. The event features multiple local organizations including: Orange County Health Dept, Voter's Registration, Grace Medical Home, Shepherd's Hope, Stepping Stone, local Community Health Centers, Florida Hospital Endocrinology Center (diabetic risk assessments & glucose screenings for those at risk), Target Pharmacy.

Featuring: Eatonville Mayor Bruce Mount, Dr. Linda Burke-Galloway, Dr. Anna Lizama, Tonja Holloway of Macedonia Baptist Church, and more!

7:30 pm: Clearwater, FL - RNC Watch Party and Community Gathering 

Sneaky’s Bar and Grill
7500 Ulmerton Rd.
Clearwater, Florida

Thursday, August 30 - Health Reform Matters to People with Pre-Existing Conditions

9:00am-6:30pm: Tampa, FL - Doctors and Patients Educate about Health Reform

Lykes Gaslight Square Park
410 N. Franklin St.
Tampa, FL

We will have booths set up around the park to hand out information about the facts on why health reform matters to doctors, patients, and the country. We'll also be educating people about how to stay healthy through diet, exercise, and prevention screenings.

3:15 pm: Tampa, FL - March for Health Reform

Start at N. Brush St. and E. Washington St.
Tampa, FL

 Join us for a parade of doctors, patients, and health advocates who know that the Affordable Care Act is good for us, our families, and the country.

4:00 pm: Tampa, FL - Speakers Platform - Delivering Declarations of Support for the Affordable Care Act

S. Nebraska Ave. and Walton St.
Tampa, FL

We've been collecting declarations of support from doctors and the public and will be delivering them to the Republican National Convention via the speakers platform. We have signatures from all 50 states including some of the top leaders in health care.

7:00 pm: Tampa, FL - RNC Watch Party and Community Gathering 

Hattricks
107 South Franklin
Tampa FL

Friday, August 31 - Health Reform Matters to Gainesville and the University of Florida

12:00 pm: Health Reform and Health Professionals Advocacy 101  

University of Florida Medical School
Room C1-9
1600 Southwest Archer Rd
Gainesville, FL

Everyone on the health care campus is welcome to attend this session on the basics of health reform and physician advocacy - how health professionals can use our experiences and voices to make sure the community understands the truth about why the Affordable Care Act matters for everyone. 

1:00 pm: Medical Student Organizing Meeting

University of Florida Medical School
Room CG-56
1600 Southwest Archer Rd
Gainesville, FL

1:45 pm: Young Adults & Health Reform Education & Dorm Health 101 Tabling & Press Conference & Declaration Delivery

University of Florida
Reitz Union North Lawn
1600 Southwest Archer Rd
Gainesville, FL 

6:00 pm: Dinner with the Community 

Stonewood Grill & Tavern 
3812 W Newberry Rd
Gainesville, FL

Join the doctors, patients, and advocates who are traveling on the tour for a bite to eat and more discussion of how we can make a difference.

Saturday, September 1: Health Reform Matters to Atlanta

12:30 pm: Press Conference and Delivering Declarations of Support to Local Officials

State Capitol
206 Washington Street
Atlanta, GA

10:00am - 4:00pm: Black Pride Festival Health Fair

Black Pride Festival
Melia Hotel
590 W. Peachtree St.
Atlanta, GA

6-9 pm: Community Gathering 

Neighbors Pub
752 N. Highland Ave. NE
Atlanta, GA 

Sunday, September 2: Health Reform Matters to Columbia

1:00pm-2:30pm: Education Forum and Prevention Screening

Bible Way Church of Atlas Road
2440 Atlas Rd
Columbia, SC 

5:30pm: Health Reform and Physician Advocacy 101 

University of South Carolina Medical School
Location TBD 

7:30pm: Dinner with the Community 

Miyo's
1220 E-2 Bower Pkwy
Columbia, SC

Monday, September 3: Health Reform Matters to Families and Children

12:00pm-6:00pm: Charlotte, NC - DFA Exhibit at CarolinaFest

CarolinaFest
On Tryon St. between Stonewall and Trade
Charlotte, NC

We will have our RV and a booth in the "Families and Children" section of CarolinaFest. We'll have interactive ways to learn about the Affordable Care Act and how to stay healthy.

Tuesday, September 4: Health Reform Matters to Durham & Greensboro

12:00pm-4:00pm: Durham, NC - Lincoln Community Health Center Health Fair, Health Reform Education, and Press Conference

Lincoln Community Health Center
1301 Fayetteville Street  
Durham, NC 27717

Time TBD Local Organizing Meeting (closed to press)

Lincoln Community Health Center
1301 Fayetteville Street  
Durham, NC 27717

7:30pm: Greensboro, NC - DNC Watch Party and Community Gathering (closed to press)

Darryl’s Wood Fired Grill
3300 High Point Rd.
Greenboro, NC 27407

Wednesday, September 5: Health Reform Matters to Women and Families

Location and Time TBD - Education Forum and Prevention Screening

7:30pm: Charlotte, NC - DNC Watch Party and Community Gathering (closed to press)

Tavern on the Tracks
1411 S. Tryon St.
Charlotte, NC

Thursday, September 6: Health Reform Matters to People with Pre-Existing Conditions

10:40am-11:20pm: Charlotte, NC - March for Health Reform

Pearl Street Park
1008 Baxter St.
Charlotte, NC 

Come one, come all! Join doctors and patients from around the country.

11:30am-2:30pm: Charlotte, NC - Doctors for America Blood Drive

Mt. Moriah Primitive Baptist
727 West Trade St.
Charlotte, NC 28202

12:00pm-5:00pm: Charlotte, NC - Doctors and Patients Educate about Health Reform

Bank of America Stadium
800 South Mint St.
Charlotte, NC 28202